II. International Ross Sea Region
Collaboration and Coordination Workshop
01 August 2020, 9am to 4:30pm
Rydges Hotel, Hobart, Tasmania
Workshop Purpose
The international science community has a critical part to play in providing understanding on how climate warming will
affect Antarctica, the Southern Ocean and its ecosystems. The participants of the First International Ross Sea
Collaboration and Coordination (RSRCC) Workshop (02 Jul 19, Incheon) concluded that a regular RSRCC workshop would
be useful, particularly if it were held in conjunction with the SCAR Open Science Conference. There was consensus that
bringing together national Antarctic programmes operating in the Ross Sea and leading researchers, to discuss existing
research plans and emerging future priorities in the Ross Sea Region provides an important basis to explore
opportunities for collaborative research and logistical efficiencies.
Workshop Priorities
Session 1: Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystem Research
Current and projected environmental change has the potential to fundamentally alter Ross Sea ecosystems with far
reaching consequences. There is a critical need for systems-level approaches to understanding ecosystem variability in
the framework of broader environmental change. Research to understand and quantify environmental change in the
Ross Sea will be time and resource intensive. This workshop session focuses on sharing existing and aspirational plans
for research related to:
The Ross Sea Marine Protected Area
Terrestrial ecosystems
Maintaining existing and initiating new monitoring stations
Session 2: Influence of Climate Change on the Cryosphere
Understanding future stability of the Ross Ice Shelf and its implication for accelerated ice mass loss from West and
East Antarctic ice sheets is an international priority. Here we propose to focus on four priorities:
Terra Nova Bay and Ross Sea polynya
Eastern Ross Sea
Ross Ice Shelf, cavity and grounding line
Paleoclimate / marine sediment drilling
Session 3: Logistics Activities in the Ross Sea
Increased international coordination could increase logistical efficiencies, reduce duplication, and connect relevant
researchers. This workshop session aims to raise awareness of planned and future logistical activities in the Ross Sea
region that could be leveraged to enhance research opportunities such as:
Repeat measurements/surveys
Deployment/maintenance of equipment (moorings, floats, gliders etc)
Sample collection (biological, water, gas samples)
Session 4: Ross Sea Region MPA Action or Expert Group
The first RSRCC workshop identified as a high priority an improved understanding of the MPA’s vulnerability to climate
and environmental change. We discussed with the Chairs of the SCAR Life Sciences Group a proposal for a RSR MPA
Action or Expert Group with such a focus. We plan to circulate a proposal draft to workshop participant in March for
input, comments and suggestions for group members, for submission to SCAR in early April. This session will provide an
opportunity for further discussion and updates.